First leg score: Lillestrøm 1-3 Royal Antwerp
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Royal Antwerp vs Lillestrøm
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Match preview
Following last week’s victory at Åråsen Stadion, Royal Antwerp are firm favourites to advance through this particular tie.
Seven nights ago, Dinis Almeida broke the deadlock after just five minutes in Norway, only for Magnus Knudsen to equalise for Lillestrøm in first half injury time.
Nevertheless, Radja Nainggolan’s second half brace ensured the Belgian club are in a commanding position.
Mark van Bommel’s men only just beat Drita in the previous round, but should be more comfortable this time round.
Royal Antwerp have featured in the Europa League group stages in both of the last two seasons.
The 1993 Cup Winners’ Cup finalists are hoping to be involved in big-time continental football once again.
As for Lillestrøm, having hammered Seinäjoen Jalkapallokerho 6-2 in the previous round, they were hoping to win multiple European ties in the same season for the first time since 2000.
Baring a miraculous comeback at Bosuilstadion, they’re going to fall short.
Antwerp are aiming to set up a Europa Conference League play-off round clash with İstanbul Başakşehir or Breiðablik, almost certainly the former.